Gardiner Group builds 120-room hotel in Kandy

The Gardiner Group, owners of Ceylon Hotels Corporation ( CHC) and the Galle Face Group having refurbished most of its hotels is building a new 120room hotel in Kandy costing US$ 10 million, officials said.

“This is a joint venture with Sino Lanka Hotel Holdings and we plan to open it in 2013 September,” an official told the Business Times. He said that the refurbishment of all their CHC properties, predominantly patronized by the domestic travellers, is now geared to attract foreign tourists as well.

Some 58 rooms of the 88-room The Surf- Bentota ( formerly Lihiniya Surf) and the 52room The Safari ( formerly Tissa Rest House) were refurbished fully with a comprehensive development programme under the auspices of the company Group Chairman at a cost of nearly Rs. 600 million, he said, adding that the balance 30 rooms of Surf are being refurbished with added facilities.

Chethiya Perera, Vice President Strategy and Development CHC told the Business Times that all these properties have been upgraded into four star category and most travel agents who visited the two properties on a familiarization tour have agreed to promote them to their overseas counterparts. Having refurbished Heritage Ambepussa ( Ambepussa Rest House) Ambepussa Avanhala, Heritage Pussellawa ( Pussellawa Rest House), Polonnaruwa Rest House, The Surf and The Safari CHC; the company has now embarked on refurbishing Dambulla and Habarana Rest Houses ( which will be re- opened on 15th October), he added.

Mr. Perera said that during last year occupancies of these properties have increased significantly. Grand Ella Motel and Kithulgalla Rest House, Belihuloya Rest House, Sigiriya Rest House and Hotel Seruwa are also being refurbished. The cost of these projects is estimated to be over Rs. 500 million.

“Hotel Mihintale, Madawachchiya Rest House, Weligama Bay Inn and Hanwella Rest House also will be refurbished thereafter,” Mr. Perera said.

Some 58 rooms of the 88-room The Surf-Bentota (formerly Lihiniya Surf) and the 52room The Safari (formerly Tissa Rest House) were refurbished fully with a comprehensive development programme under the auspices of the company Group Chairman at a cost of nearly Rs. 600 million, he said, adding that the balance 30 rooms of Surf are being refurbished with added facilities.